How Trail Building Works in Saalfelden Leogang

A trail doesn’t shape itself. But you don’t always need heavy machinery like excavators and rollers either - as proven by the shaping team led by Reini Unterberger. In harmony with nature, they are crafting another dream trail in the forest, which we’ll be able to enjoy this summer.

Something New is Coming

Get ready for the Knappentrail! While it shares its entrance and exit with the well-known Schwarzleo Trail, it carves its own unique path down the slope. Every now and then, with a quick glance to the right, you might catch a glimpse of its older sibling. Just like its counterparts - AlteSchmiede, Schwarzleo, Forsthof, and Matzalm Trail - the Knappentrail is a natural trail. That means no heavy equipment is used in its construction, and only natural elements are incorporated. In other words: pure handcraft.

The Builders

For a project like this, we rely on true experts. Reini Unterberger and Markus Hampl are seasoned pros - they’ve been doing this for nearly 20 years. Considering that natural trails and lines have only been built in Europe for a relatively short time, that’s quite special. This style of bike trail building originated in Canada, where locals would bomb down old logging paths on their bikes and think: "Awesome!" You can experience this feeling on our trails - no unauthorized riding required!

How It’s Done

Before a single root is removed or a shovel of dirt is moved, the forest has to be surveyed to find the perfect line. But hold on - first comes the paperwork! You can’t just build a trail wherever you want. You need approval from the landowner, the authorities, and environmental protection agencies. Only when everything is cleared can our team get started. But even then, the shaping doesn’t begin blindly - the perfect line needs to be mapped out in their minds beforehand. Without a plan, you might suddenly find yourself facing a cliff with no way forward - much like in life! That’s why the line must be set first. Once the mental blueprint is in place, the real work begins. First, the path is cleared with a trimmer. Then, small roots are removed, and the trail is filled with good material - a.k.a. soil. A final layer of shale is added, which gradually mixes with the earth over time. This ensures proper drainage. That’s why the top layer always consists of locally sourced rock. This process continues along the entire length of the trail - about one kilometer in total.

More Than Just Handwork

Shaping a trail in harmony with nature is about more than just avoiding excavators and rollers. It’s about respecting the environment, adapting the trail to the terrain rather than the other way around. No healthy trees are cut down - only dead or damaged ones (which bark beetles love, by the way). These trees are then repurposed as borders along the trail, preventing erosion and keeping the path from narrowing too quickly. The logs are sustainable and take about 15 years to decompose, ensuring the trail’s longevity - as long as it’s maintained after each winter. It’s not just about preserving trees, either. The entire forest floor, including mosses and other plants that need to be moved for the trail, is relocated and replanted elsewhere, allowing it to grow as if it had always been there. Any rocks dug up along the way are repurposed as transitions between trail sections.

Pure Nature - Almost

Just because we work as naturally as possible doesn't mean we skip all modern tools. The shapers use chainsaws, trimmers, drills, screwdrivers, and even an electric wheelbarrow - no need to make things unnecessarily hard. ;-) Some trail sections require additional features like North Shores (small wooden bridges, similar to those found on hiking trails) or full bridges. These protect wetland areas and allow the fascinating moss species to thrive undisturbed. The elements are built from locally sourced wood by Nico and Simon from kolap. These two are pros, constructing extreme sports features and bike park elements worldwide. For a 10-meter bridge, they need about a day - pretty efficient!

Some Impressive Numbers & Facts

Of course, I had to ask the team for some details. Reini and Markus build about 50 meters of trail per day, meaning the Knappentrail will take about 20 working days to complete - plus additional time for the bridges. Over his nearly 20-year career, Reini has built around 100,000 meters of trail - that’s twice the diameter of Neptune! More fun facts: A one-kilometer trail that’s one meter wide involves moving around 500 cubic meters of earth. And for those who love details, here’s a list of the tools Reini and Markus use for trail building:

  • Motor trimmer
  • Telescopic chainsaw (up to 6m reach)
  • Electric wheelbarrow
  • Large and small chainsaw
  • "Zapi" (for pulling trees)
  • Leaf blower
  • Shovel
  • Broom
  • Rake
  • Sledgehammer
  • Cordless drill
  • Pickaxe
  • Car with trailer
  • Vibrating plate compactor
  • LOTS of snacks

My Takeaway

During my research, I visited the trail twice while it was under construction - once in the rain and once in nice weather. In the rain, you can forget about making progress. Without the shale layer, you just sink into the mud or slip - more like a mud fight than trail building! On days like that, the team focuses on tasks like delivering wood for the bridges. In good weather, though, they have the coolest workplace ever! Standing in the middle of a cool forest, with an occasional breeze and wild blueberries - locally known as "Moosbee" - growing along the path. On the nearby Schwarzleo Trail, bikers cruise past, enjoying a trail Reini and Markus built the previous year. What could be better?

Images: Michael Geißler